A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC'S reopening tonight...(review updates here) — Page 11

The idea of Elaine being fired would only come into play if the situation really got worse and the press started reporting on it. But I think the press is going to sympathize with Elaine and give her plenty of time to find her way. It took Angela some time, and they know that.

So, it's:

a) She'll get more comfortable, rest on her days off, and by next week get cooking.

b) She'll be given and earpiece or teleprompter.

c) She'll be fired.

I really, really can't imagine c) happening. She's a legend. She's earned some patience, understanding, and maybe a teleprompter.

Saw Night Music's matinee today. Elaine had a series of difficult moments. Watching, I think her problems are with the cue lines. She didn't seem sure about which line was next, but as soon as she got a couple of words from the prompter, she was off and running. She stumbled right from her first line. The prompter's name is Mary. I know this as Ms. Stritch just called for her by name as she continued to struggle with her opening lines. No problems with 'Liaisons' outside of a slight stumble at the start of the last verse. During the dinner scene, she went up badly and the rest of the cast kind of smiled and squirmed as nobody on stage seemed to do for a moment until Elaine said to Carl-Magnus (we saw the understudy who was GREAT!) something like, "The problem here, sir, is that no one seems to know what you are saying." We all laughed and, happily, the show was back on track and Elaine had us in her pocket.

Kudos to Keaton Whittaker who played young Frederika at my performance. So much of what she does is with Stritch, yet she was never thrown by the other actor's problems.

I wonder if what I saw at the curtain call is happening each performance: the company & small group bows ended, Peters, Stritch, and Hanson bowed. Hanson stepped away & Peters and Stritch bowed. The company exited and Peters & Stritch exited up center. Peters turned her head to Stritch and said something and then brought her back to give her another bow. It looked like a spontaneous show of support for Stritch. And the audience showed the love.

Ramona Mallory was on last night...

I was able to catch the matinee this afternoon - and yes, Stritch seems to be having more trouble with her lines moment to moment than she was having Wednesday night.There were a few dropped lines, a few called out from the wings and a few that were just paraphrased (none of this happened on Wednesday).

The good news is that her character work has already deepened and the moments that are good are exceptional (her wooden ring scene is flawless and deeply moving).

I think she knows the part. I do - but her memory at 85 is clearly struggling. Hopefully she will get it down with continued performances, but to me the answer really does seem to be that they need to put a teleprompter on the front of the Mezz as they did for Barbara Cook in SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM.

Thus, the lines are thus there if she needs them and hopefully with time it will all come together.

Peters remains wonderful and has clearly found a grounded base that I don't expect is going to change much from here on out.

In other news, Bradley Dean was on today for Count Malcolm and Trevor Nunn was in the audience. Overall running time was down 10 minutes from Wednesday.

Ox -- I agree with you about young Keaton who deserves special mention for not only being fabulous in the show as Fredrika but who is a total pro keeping Stritch on course as she is still finding her way.

Updated On: 7/18/10 at 09:43 PM

Yes, the wooden ring speech was spot on. It was a good note to go out on.

I wonder if there's a way for Stritch not to play matinees? This may lessen the fatigue issues and help her stay as strong as possible.

The problem is that if fatigue is becoming an issue, it may continue to worsen. It's also probably made worse by her own frustration and irritation with herself. Imagine being a legend and going through this...

I agree that it would be unlikely that she'd be removed, but they probably do need to find some way to lessen the physical strain on her.

Updated On: 7/19/10 at 01:00 AM

3 hours long?? I don't even like to have sex and eat bacon for three hours!

I'll be really upset if she lets this all get the better of her. I really hope she can overcome whatever it is that's holding her back.

Yeah, is there an official press opening?

I think that's too early.

Peters could be reviewed tonight, and she'd get raves.

As you said, Michael Bennett, Stritch is a wild card. Any word on if they're going to start using a teleprompter this week? It would seem a much better option than Stritch calling out to "Mary" in the middle of the show.

any updates from tonights show? is everything falling into place with both of our new leading ladies?

I got a student rush ticket tonight at 6:50 pm for a 7 pm show, and I believe there were at least two more tickets left. I was shocked, but very happy, of course. I don't know whether that's normal, however.

I loved the show. I went in being completely unfamiliar with the show, except for "Send in the Clowns" and "The Miller's Son," so I didn't really know what to expect. Peters was breathtaking. Stritch had a bit of trouble with two lines in "Liaisons"...which is understandable, considering how seemingly random a lot of the lines in that song are. She also had a bit of trouble with one other scene. There were other points where it was unclear whether or not certain pauses were dropped/forgotten lines, or part of the show, and since I've never seen it before, I honestly don't know. However, I still greatly enjoyed her performance, and the performances of the rest of the cast, with the slight exception of Ramona Mallory, who at times veered too much into random, incomprehensible hysterics.

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I saw it tonight as well and share ElphieDefiesGravity's assessment. Overall excellent. I will say that there were no calls to "Mary" tonight. And given how the character seems to be developed, it is hard to tell in places if it's intentional or trying to remember lines. But overall it works.

adamgreer - The other scene where there was a struggle was towards the end in the conversation with Fredrika about illusions. It was an awkward moment as Keaton (who was on tonight) seemed to be trying to figure out how to help her, Elaine was "umming" her way to try and get back on track, and the voice off stage was trying to cue her. She seemed to get it back on track and all went well.